Bulls PG Dunn absent for 'personal matter'

Chicago Bulls point guard Kris Dunn will miss the team's season opener Thursday night at Philadelphia to attend to a "personal matter," coach Fred Hoiberg announced. That means the Bulls will be without two-fifths of their starting lineup. Forward Lauri Markkanen sprained his elbow in training camp and isn't expected back until late November. Hoiberg did not say how long Dunn, 24, is expected to be away from the team. "Yeah, obviously we've been working on different coverages based on having a full roster, but things like this happen,'" Hoiberg said. "They come up and you just have to adjust the best you can. We're still going to go out there and hopefully play with great effort, great intensity. It's going to have to be what we do if we want to have a chance in this game against Philly in their home opener. "It's going to be electric in here, and they're going to come out and play extremely hard and extremely physical. That's who they are and we have to be ready for that. It's a little bit of shock and awe with this team where you've got to weather that first storm, and hopefully give ourselves a chance with great effort.'' Cameron Payne will start in place of Dunn. "Obviously, this is a big opportunity for me," Payne said. "I'm just going to play my hardest every night, do the best I can." The Bulls acquired Dunn before the 2017-18 season as part of the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. In 52 games (43 starts) with the Bulls last season, Dunn averaged 13.4 points and 6.0 assists in 29.3 minutes. --Field Level Media